Diary entries show assistant ministers not a regular feature
The Premier has defended the growing number of assistant ministers, who pocket an additional $80k, despite some of them not meeting with their ministers regularly.
The Palaszczuk Government has defended its burgeoning assistant ministry amid news several MPs have only officially sat down with their respective Ministers a handful of times.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath logged just one meeting with Assistant Minister Julieanne Gilbert during November, December and January.
Meanwhile Transport Minister Mark Bailey didn’t log an official meeting with Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders – Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads – during the same period.
It comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year insisted growing the assistant ministry from five to eight was crucial for the state’s COVID-19 recovery.
Several assistant ministers do have desks in the offices of their respective ministers and have “daily interactions”.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni met with his Assistant Minister Lance McCallum 17 times during that three month period, while Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe logged 24 various meetings with Michael Healy.
Ministerial diaries for February will be uploaded in coming weeks.
Manager of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie claimed the assistant ministers were becoming “smug seat warmers”.
But a government spokesman said they were engaging with stakeholders across the state.
Assistant ministers earn $243,400 a year – $84,000 more than a backbencher.
Ms D’Ath did not say how many times she met with Ms Gilbert during February and so far this month, instead saying she would always meet with her as required.
Ms Gilbert, who is also the Assistant Minister for Regional Health Infrastructure, said she had been busy spending time in the regions and holding meetings with stakeholders.
“I have actually been flat out,” she said.
Mr Bailey said he kept in touch with Mr Saunders “regularly”, seeing and meeting him at parliament sittings.
According to the diaries, Ms Palaszczuk met with Bart Mellish – Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans’ Affairs, Trade and COVID Economic Recovery – twice during November, December and January.
A spokesman for the Premier said Mr Mellish was instrumental in ensuring Anzac Day was as close to normal as possible this year and that he was in frequent contact with the Premier.
A spokeswoman for Deputy Premier Steven Miles – who met with Local Government Assistant Minister Nikki Boyd once during that period – said Ms Boyd also had a work space in his office and regularly attended office meetings.
Education Minister Grace Grace met with Brittany Lauga once in November, but said the Assistant Minister was in regular contact with her.
A spokesman for Treasurer Cameron Dick – who officially met with Charis Mullen 10 times during that period – said formal meetings only made up a small part of Ms Mullen’s daily interactions with the Treasurer.
